How do you respond when people try to get you to go along with there prejudice or hatred?

Question

When people of a similar ethnic background, nationality, or religion as yours will make an off color comment about another, hoping or assuming that you will side with them.

Have you ever caught yourself being drawn into their drama?

Consigleri:

The most honest answer so far. Thumbs up.

Frau Hunter:
How can you sue someone for that? Thumbs up for your integrity

Answer 1

Honestly I do sometimes.

My friends will spurt off some joke that is really prejudice masked as humor, and I will laugh.

I think it is human to try and fit in, not right, but human non the less.

I don't intentionally go out of my way to be prejudiced or hateful, and catch myself when I realize that I am going along with it, especially when it has the potential of hurting someone nearby.

It is something that I am continually trying to correct, and all of us deal with in one degree or another.

Answer 2

It is very easy to get caught up in someone elses drama. I try to avoid those situations by being an original. Some would call me radical, some fair, some opinionated, but all call me honest. I am quick to tell someone what I think and more often than not, it is not what that person expected to hear me say. I base what I think on a personal relationship with God and the opinions I have are opinions I have talked over with Him. If God doesn't impress upon me that the way I feel is wrong, I will stick with my opinion. If God does impress upon me that what I think is wrong, then I reassess the facts and try to come up with something that God agrees with. Whenever I disagree with God, I ask Him to show me where I am wrong so that I can know and make a sincere attempt towards believing in something that is right through knowledge that He has shown me. This is how I can avoid getting caught up in conflict or drama. I follow the "frog" method which is simply to fully rely on God, frog. The Devil loves it when he can trip you up, especially if you are a Christian. If you always "frog", there is no way he can!

Answer 3

There are times when you want to just go along and get out of there but I remind myself that not speaking is the same as supporting the racism.

I cut off friendship with a long-term friend last year because of his racism and told everyone in my Kindred why. All but two of them also made the same stand. My former friend made contact this year and wanted to become friends again. I said No and why.

Two months ago he threatened to sue me if I told anyone else that he is a racist. I stood firm and can look at myself in the mirror and face my deity.

Answer 4

It depends. Sometimes I get caught into a conversation with stupid people and I don't care enough to try to convince them of anything - just looking to escape. Sometimes I'd point something out, and sometimes I wouldn't. If it's a stupid off color comment thrown around without much thought I probably ignore it. If it's backed by serious hateful beliefs, I most likely ignore the person from then on.

I think I am more likely to attempt to argue with a person with whom I share my background at least somewhat - either same ethnicity or origin or beliefs or profession - than with a person of different origin. For example, I never even attempt arguing with black people about their issues - even when this weird secretary was so convinced that the government is holding secret the actual size of the black population in the US, misrepresenting it by the factor of a 10 at least, to make it look like blacks are a minority... Or these Hispanic friends I had made comments about blacks... Or this African American junkie woman yelling at her neighbors from Ghana "You Black Africans [a range of insults]"...I never even thought about arguing with a person who did not believe in evolution - I met two like that - I was curious out of my mind, so I just asked questions - but to argue with something like that???

Answer 5

What are you talking about, I have never been in that situation...*rolls eyes!*

Some black blokes are far more bigoted and racist than any of my white friends could ever dream of being. It still amazes me when I hear about white fellas being racist pigs, and yet I have not seen it to any degree that would be offensive. As for the people that want behave like that, well I guess that is their opinion and to them there is some justification. However, I find myself just staying quiet. I am not usually a fence sitter, but, I must say, in this case, if one of my mates make derogatory remarks about another race, creed, sect or whatever, I usually stay quiet. Just let them rant. To me retaliating just justifies their retort on their own minds

Answer 6

No, I don't get caught up in the drama. I have a very short fuse when it comes to stupid people, so I keep my mouth shut and walk away. If I feel the situation calls for saying something, I say something and then walk away.

Answer 7

yes, depends on where I am, at work I keep my mouth shut but in social situations I speak up. Just because I'm non-white, some people assume that I must be a flaming liberal, which is untrue.

Answer 8

It depends on who's making the comment and in what context.

I know one guy who hates Jews. His wife was picked on mercilessly by a Jewish boy when she was young. I try to point out that one jerk does not represent the entire group.

Answer 9

I immediately put them in their place and let them know how idiotic their statements were.
No one ever walks away after making a racist or prejudicial statement about another group thinking that I agree with them- no matter who they are.

Answer 10

I don't hold back when it comes to bigotry.

I could not remain friends with a bigot.